Elevator emergency box

ABSTRACT

(EN) The invention relates to an emergency box for use in an elevator that contains resources for assistance for elevator emergencies, the emergency box being provided with an emergency connection device which can establish a connection to a central control station if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled, wherein the emergency box can be opened only by means of a personal identification number which is provided by the central control station. 
     The emergency box can be connected to additional sensors and safety devices for an expanded functional scope. In particular, said sensors and devices are smoke detectors and position contacts or oxygen masks, fire extinguishers, and airbags installed in the elevator cab.

The invention relates to an emergency box for use in an elevator that contains resources for assistance for elevator emergencies, the emergency box being provided with an emergency connection device that can establish a connection to a central control station if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled, wherein the emergency box can be opened only by means of a personal identification number which is communicated by the central control station.

Elevator systems of this type are characterized in that each elevator cab is equipped with an emergency call device that is directly or indirectly connected to a central control station. In an emergency, a person in need of assistance communicates a message via the automatic, in particular digital emergency call device to the manned control station. The control station receives the emergency call, determines the subscriber and the subscriber-specific data using its database and notifies the provider of assistance according to an alarm plan. The assistance provider travels to the subscriber's location. The danger exists that people trapped in the elevator may need emergency assistance. Moreover, it would also be preferable if a signal is transmitted to the central control station if the elevator is not operational and has stalled even if no one is in the elevator cab.

The object of the invention is to provide an emergency box for use in the elevator with which the persons trapped in the elevator can promptly obtain resources for assistance while they are waiting on the providers of assistance. In addition, the central control station is informed about the elevator defect even if the elevator is empty.

The invention resolves this technical problem with the features of claim 1.

Emergency box for use in an elevator, the emergency box containing resources for assistance for an elevator emergency. The emergency box is provided with an emergency connection device that can establish a connection to a central control station if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled, wherein the emergency box can be opened only by means of a personal identification number, which is communicated by the central control station.

The primary advantage of the emergency box of the present invention is that, even if the elevator cab is empty, a signal is transmitted to the central control station via the emergency connection device installed on the emergency box if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled so that the elevator can be repaired as soon as possible.

It is advantageous if the emergency box of the present invention is provided with an enabling mechanism, wherein the enabling mechanism activates the PIN entry function only if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled. In an elevator emergency, a signal is transmitted via the emergency connection device to the central control station so that it automatically activates the PIN input function via the enabling mechanism. This prevents the emergency box from being decoded by the trial and error entry of random PIN numbers and prevents the materials from being randomly removed at any time while the elevator is being normally operated.

The emergency connection device is preferably installed on the surface of the housing.

The emergency box according to the invention preferably has multiple compartments and contains various resources for assistance that are needed in an emergency such as glucose, water bottles, cold packs, whistles, handkerchiefs, chewing gum, oxygen masks, urine receptacles, flashlights and/or first aid kits. German army individual rations can also be stored in the emergency box.

Because the situation of being trapped in an elevator cab is quite dangerous, especially for people that suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, asthma and allergies, it is advantageous for the emergency box to contain non-prescription medications for diabetics, allergy sufferers or for people who suffer from asthma.

Insulin, alpha glucosidase inhibitors, sulfonylureas, biguanides, glinides, insulin sensitizers (glitazones), incretin mimetics and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, and/or amylin analogs can be stored in the emergency box as medications for diabetics.

Salbutamol, ipratropium bromide and xanthine can be stored as medications for persons suffering from asthma.

Moreover, in an advantageous way, the emergency box can also be equipped with a blood sugar measuring device with accessories (lancing device, lancet, measuring strips, etc.), glucose solution for diabetics (glucose solution in tubes, etc.), asthma spray, thermal blankets, card games, books and/or a mobile phone. For the mobile telephone, an intelligent charging device is installed in the box that regularly provides booster charging of the rechargeable battery.

The emergency box of the present invention is preferably provided with a magnetic locking device or a similar locking device.

The PIN number that is set on the emergency box is preferably changed after each use.

The emergency box can be connected to a smoke detector and oxygen masks installed in the elevator cab as an additional function. The smoke detector is preferably mounted on the bottom of the elevator cab in order to detect smoke rising up the shaft as early as possible. Optionally, other detectors can also be mounted in the entry area and on the roof that help with early detection of combustion gases penetrating from the various floors, or combustion gases that are heavier than air. The oxygen masks are preferably mounted in the roof of the elevator cab and can be released via a flap system as in airplanes. The number of them that is available corresponds to number of persons for which the elevator cab was designed. If one of the smoke detectors detects combustion gases, the emergency box releases the oxygen masks and activates the oxygen supply to the masks via a trigger mechanism. They can then be individually activated by the users, preferably by pulling on the air hoses like in airplanes.

Moreover, the emergency box can advantageously assume control of access to a locking container mounted in the elevator cab for fire extinguishing equipment, preferably a fire extinguisher. For this purpose, the former is structurally and/or electrically connected to the latter and unlocks access to the container when smoke is detected by the smoke detector. For this type of application, it is expedient if another smoke detector is arranged on the inside under the cab roof in addition to the smoke detectors mounted on the outside so that a fire can be promptly detected in the interior of the cab.

The container is unlocked, especially if the container is mounted at a distance from the emergency box, by an electrical controller, for example, a magnetic locking device. If the container is attached to the emergency box in the manner of a dual-door cabinet, the unlocking can also be purely mechanical by retracting locking pins by means of mechanisms situated in the emergency box. In any event, the unlocking occurs independently of an enabling of the emergency box as soon as a fire has been detected so that the fire extinguishing equipment is immediately available.

Another safety device that can advantageously be used with the emergency box are airbags. For this purpose, the emergency box is connected to airbags installed in the floor and/or the lower wall area of the elevator cab and triggers them when a contact below the lowest floor level is passed. Thus, airbags can deploy in time before the elevator cab impacts the catch devices mounted below in the shaft or even the bottom of the shaft and protect the occupants during the collision. In the case of the airbags arranged in the lower wall region as well as the airbags located in the floor and opening into the cab interior, preferably sensors for the standing positions of the occupants ensure that only those airbags open whose opening area does not cover a standing position. In the simplest case, contact switches in the floor covering are sufficient. In this way, the occupants are caught by the airbags surrounding them during the fall without the possibility of being injured by the airbags located at their standing positions.

A second variant of the airbags installed in the floor opens downward into the shaft, thereby reducing the impact of the elevator cab. This second type of airbags can be installed alternatively or in addition to the other floor airbags.

To ensure the function of the emergency box, it is particularly advantageous, especially with respect to the additional functions, but also for making the connection to the central control station, if in addition to the external power supply has an emergency battery backup system that is activated and takes over the power supply if there is an external power outage or the connection of the electrical supply to the elevator cab is disrupted.

The emergency box can be retrofitted in an existing elevator or integrated in an elevator to be newly constructed.

The emergency box of the present invention is operated using the following procedure.

In an elevator emergency, a signal is transmitted via the emergency connection device to the central control station so that it dispatches a provider of assistance and automatically activates the PIN input function via the enabling mechanism. A person trapped in the elevator cab can get in touch with the central control station via the emergency call button installed in the elevator wall and thereby obtain the PIN number for the emergency call box and open the emergency call box.

Additional advantages and details of the present invention are are found in the exemplary embodiment which is described with reference to the drawings and does not limit the invention.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a view of an emergency box according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a representation of an elevator cab, wherein an emergency box of the present invention is installed on the wall of the elevator cab.

FIG. 3 shows an outside view of an elevator cab at an angle from above with optionally installed oxygen masks.

FIG. 4 shows an outside view of an elevator cab at an angle from above with optionally installed airbags and a smoke detector.

FIG. 1 shows a view of an emergency box according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows its possible installation position in an elevator cab. The emergency box is provided with an emergency connection device (not depicted) that can establish a connection to a central control station if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled. The malfunction can be detected, for example, via a motion sensor and the sensors for positioning the elevator cab with respect to the floors of the building. Should the elevator not be in motion and none of the floor sensors is activated, it is situated somewhere on the travel path. The emergency box can be opened only by means of a personal identification number, which is communicated by the central control station. The PIN number is entered using the keypad (3). The emergency box is provided with a magnetic locking device or a similar locking device (2).

FIG. 2 shows a representation of an elevator cab (6), wherein an emergency box (1) of the present invention is installed on the wall (5) of the elevator cab. In an elevator emergency, a signal is transmitted via the emergency connection device to the central control station so that it dispatches a provider of assistance and automatically activates the PIN input function via an enabling mechanism (not depicted). A person trapped in the elevator cab can get in touch with the central control station via the emergency call button (4) installed in the elevator wall and thereby obtain the PIN number for the emergency call box and open the emergency call box. The emergency box is provided with a magnetic locking device or a similar locking device (2).

It is advantageous if the emergency box of the present invention is provided with an enabling mechanism, wherein the enabling mechanism activates the PIN entry function only if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled. This prevents the emergency box from being decoded by the trial and error entry of random PIN numbers and avoids the possibility of the materials from being randomly removed at any time while the elevator is being normally operated.

Even if the elevator cab (6) is empty, a signal is transmitted to the central control station via the emergency connection device (not depicted) installed on the emergency box (1) if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled so that the elevator can be repaired as soon as possible.

FIG. 3 shows the top side of an elevator cab with an installed oxygen system. A number of oxygen mask holders (7) corresponding to the maximum number of persons permitted in the elevator are installed on the roof of the elevator cab (6). These are supplied by an oxygen cylinder that is stored in the oxygen cylinder holder (8). The supply of oxygen to the mask holders via the oxygen supply lines (11) is opened by the trigger mechanism (9), which is activated via the control and signal line (10) from the emergency box (1) if it receives a smoke alarm signal from the smoke detector (12) under the elevator cab (6) via the second control and signal line (10). The emergency flap and the cable attachment are not depicted here so as to provide a clearer overview of the components of the invention. Of course, the components of the invention are to be positioned around them so as not to impair their function.

FIG. 4 shows the bottom of the elevator cab (6) in a configuration having airbags that open inwardly and are located in the airbag containers (13). They are triggered via the control and signal line (10) from the emergency box (1) as soon as the elevator cab (8) passes a contact positioned below the lowest floor level.

REFERENCE NUMBER LIST

-   (1) Emergency box -   (2) Magnetic locking device -   (3) Keypad for PIN entry -   (4) Emergency call button -   (5) Wall of an elevator cab -   (6) Elevator cab -   (7) Oxygen mask holder -   (8) Oxygen cylinder holder -   (9) Trigger mechanism -   (10) Signal and control line -   (11) Oxygen supply line -   (12) Smoke detector -   (13) Airbag container 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. The emergency box for use in an elevator comprising: an emergency connection device that can establish a connection to a central control station if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled, wherein the emergency box can be opened only by means of a personal identification number, and the emergency box is provided with an enabling mechanism that activates the PIN entry function only if the elevator is not functioning and has stalled.
 13. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 12, wherein the emergency box has multiple compartments.
 14. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 12, wherein the emergency connection device is installed on the surface of the housing.
 15. Emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 12, wherein glucose, water bottles, handkerchiefs, cold packs, whistles, chewing gum, oxygen masks, urine receptacles, flashlights, and first aid kits are stored in the emergency box.
 16. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 15, wherein a blood glucose measuring device with accessories, glucose solution for diabetics, asthma spray, thermal blankets, card games, books and a mobile telephone are additionally stored in the emergency box.
 17. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 12, wherein the emergency box is provided with a magnetic locking device.
 18. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 12, wherein the emergency box is connected with a smoke detector and oxygen masks installed in the elevator cab.
 19. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 18, wherein the emergency box, when smoke is detected by the smoke detector, automatically enables access to the emergency box and the oxygen masks and activates the oxygen supply to the masks.
 20. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 18, wherein the emergency box is structurally and electrically connected to a locking container for fire extinguishing equipment, preferably a fire extinguisher, and unlocks access to the container when smoke is detected by the smoke detector.
 21. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 12, wherein the emergency box is connected to airbags installed in the floor and/or lower wall area of the elevator cab and they are triggered when a contact passes below the lowest floor level.
 22. The emergency box for use in an elevator as described in claim 12, wherein the emergency box is equipped with an emergency battery system that takes over the supply of power if the external power supply fails. 